HoopsHype.com Rumors

That'll be the summertime decision facing J.J. Redick, Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings. The three-guard rotation has been making noise lately, connecting quickly together for the Bucks. They've each found a way to bond peacefully and elevate the Bucks into playoff territory in the East. They also share something else in common: They can walk in July as free agents. They can enhance the perception of Milwaukee as a nice place to make your name but no place to stay and waste your fame. "It's a tricky situation for us," said John Hammond, the general manager. "It's something we're going to have to work our way through. We'll address it when the time comes and hopefully we'll have some good results." SportsonEarth

Milwaukee Bucks, Free Agency, Monta Ellis, Brandon Jennings, John Hammond 

So it's up to Redick, Ellis and Jennings to make Milwaukee a destination, and also up to Kohl. He almost sold the Bucks to Michael Jordan five years ago. Maybe Kohl's biggest sell is convincing big-name free agents to consider the Bucks. Will any take Kohl's money? They haven't yet. Would you? We'll see in the next few summers. "We have flexibility," Hammond said. "We're not going to have any tax implications. We feel comfortable where we're at. Senator Kohl will do what's necessary to win games." SportsonEarth

Milwaukee Bucks, Free Agency, Monta Ellis, Brandon Jennings, John Hammond 

Bucks guard Brandon Jennings said he wasn't stunned by coach Jim Boylan's decision to take him out of the lineup for the final 3 minutes Tuesday night. Boylan removed Jennings and inserted guard J.J. Redick for the final 3:02 of the Bucks' 95-90 road victory over the Dallas Mavericks. "No, I mean guys had it going," Jennings said. "When guys have it going like that, they get a chance to stay in the game. "I guess you just have to roll with it. Now whoever has it going, you know who is going to stay in and who's not. Hey, it just is what it is." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Jennings 

Donatas Motiejunas, a 7-foot Lithuanian, will make his first NBA start at power forward. Rockets coach Kevin McHale also said newcomers Thomas Robinson, the rookie from Kansas, and Francisco Garcia will make their Houston debuts against the Bucks. "Everybody knows what Carlos can do," Jennings said. "He will shoot it; he can defend. He was a hell of a player when he was here with us and I really loved playing with him. "Now he's in Houston and he's doing his thing. He's actually having a great year." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Jennings, Carlos Delfino 

He’s established himself as one of the best scoring point guards in the league, averaging 18.9 points and 6.1 assists per game. He’s the kind of young (23 years old) talent that the Mavericks might covet with their pile of free-agent cash to spend this summer. If so, the feeling seems to be mutual. “Yeah, of course,” Jennings said when asked if he could see himself fitting in Dallas. “You’ve got Dirk Nowitzki, you’ve got O.J. Mayo, Elton Brand, Chris Kaman. “Who wouldn’t want to play in an environment like this every night? You’ve got an owner who’s so into his team and everything like that. Every time you see the Mavs, you see him cheering or going crazy. They won a championship. They’re about winning.” Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks, Free Agency, Brandon Jennings 

While it remains to be seen whether Mayo, Brand and Kaman return for the Mavericks’ future, Nowitzki is a given. And Jennings said he’s let himself think about running the pick-and-roll, one of his specialties, with the Mavericks’ future hall of famer. “That would be crazy,” Jennings said. “At the end of the season, we’ll just see what happens. As far as right now, I’m just trying to help this team get to the playoffs and win basketball games.” Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks, Free Agency, Brandon Jennings 

Now that J.J. Redick is a Buck and is going to get a long-term deal from the team this summer, what happens to Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings? They could be gone. Jennings hopes to land in Dallas via a free-agent deal this summer and the Mavs would love to get him, but he's restricted. Ellis was the centerpiece of the offer for Josh Smith. New York Daily News

Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Jennings 

Jennings is playing a team-high 37.4 minutes per game and Ellis is averaging 37.1, leading to concern expressed by both Hammond and Boylan. "We've had to play them too many minutes," Boylan said. "Forty minutes a night, that's not a good formula for us." But Jennings disputed that notion. "I'm 23 years old," he said. "I don't mind playing a lot of minutes at all. I never complain about playing time; I never complain about being tired or anything like that. "Monta has played 40 minutes at Golden State. It's nothing to us." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Jennings 

The Milwaukee Bucks' guard duo of Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis are featured in the NBA's newest "BIG" advertising spot. The video is a spoof on Milwaukee's famous duo from the late 1970s, TV icons Laverne & Shirley, set to the background music "Making Our Dreams Come True." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Monta Ellis, Brandon Jennings, Media 

One rival executive said fourth-year point guard Brandon Jennings and forward Ersan Ilyasova are not expected to be traded. But center Samuel Dalembert (expiring deal worth $6.7 million) and fourth-year forward Ekpe Udoh could help get the deal done. USA Today Sports

Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Samuel Dalembert, Brandon Jennings, Ekpe Udoh, Ersan Ilyasova 

The Milwaukee Bucks continue to discuss Josh Smith trade scenarios with the Atlanta Hawks in advance of Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline, according to sources with knowledge of the talks. But those discussions, sources say, also serve as a strong indication of the rising likelihood that Brandon Jennings will not be moved this week. ESPN.com

Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Brandon Jennings, Josh Smith 

The Mavericks, sources say, have been pessimistic from the start about their ability to trade for Jennings before the deadline anyway, knowing that he’s the closest thing to a face of the franchise for the Bucks in the wake of Andrew Bogut’s departure at the 2012 trade deadline. Also, Dallas is aware that Milwaukee would likely set a high bar for teams inquiring about the third-year point guard. ESPN.com

Dallas Mavericks, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Brandon Jennings, Andrew Bogut 

Chris Broussard: Josh Smith would like to play w/Monte Ellis & Brandon Jennings so Bucks trying to make trade w/out giving up Ellis. Twitter @Chris_Broussard

Atlanta Hawks, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Brandon Jennings, Josh Smith 

You think these guys aren’t aware of what’s going on? I sidle up to DeMar after the game while someone else is doing a scrum and about the first thing he says is: “How’s Milwaukee doing?” And, no, he was not checking up on his buddy Brandon Jennings. Yeah, they know what’s happening just above them in the Eastern Conference standings and at least a little bit of scoreboard watching is going on. Toronto Star

Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, Brandon Jennings, DeMar DeRozan 

Adrian Wojnarowski: For all the leverage Brandon Jennings sought changing agents, reality is unchanged: No one will max him out, Bucks will match sheet in July. Twitter @WojYahooNBA

Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Brandon Jennings 

The Bucks don’t have anything going trade-wise for guards Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis and doubt either will get moved, a source told Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo! Sports

Golden State Warriors, Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Monta Ellis, Brandon Jennings 

Bucks coach Jim Boylan addressed the Jennings situation after the Bucks' victory over the 76ers. An ESPN report Wednesday quoted a source as saying Jennings and the Bucks had "irreconcilable differences." "Brandon and I talk all the time," Boylan said. "I talk to a lot of people around the league, a lot of people around Brandon. I don't get that feeling from him; I don't get that feeling from his people. "I saw that quote. It's just a source, whoever it is. That doesn't carry much weight with me. I just know my conversations with Brandon. He's here; he's a Milwaukee Buck. "He's going to do everything he can to help us win. And all that other stuff will take care of itself." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Jennings, Jim Boylan 

Jennings played down any discontent Wednesday and said, "Just because I got a new agent, that doesn't mean I'm trying to leave Milwaukee or I'm unhappy. That has nothing to do with it." Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Jennings 

Jennings, who has played horribly lately after switching agents (Duffy to Jeff Schwartz), has also been mentioned in trade whispers. Racine Journal-Times

Milwaukee Bucks, Trade, Brandon Jennings 

Contrary to an ESPN report, the Bucks didn’t make a formal offer to Brandon Jennings while he was negotiating for a contract extension. According to two individuals, Bucks officials and Jennings’ former agent, Bill Duffy, did nothing more than exchange ideas. Racine Journal-Times

Milwaukee Bucks, Brandon Jennings